Alex Skouras and Leonidas Anastasopoulos, co-founders & managing partners of Alesonor, talked to Business Review about the company’s strategy to focus on delivering high-end, sustainable real estate projects on the local market and building resilient communities around them. By Anda Sebesi What wer»»»

2025 brought strategic expansion for SPEEDWELL Development, both in Romania and abroad. Country Manager Yannick Van de Parre tells Business Review about how the company navigated a volatile fiscal environment, transforming market challenges into opportunities through a focus on high sustainability »»»

Egypt and Japan on Sunday signed an executive agreement for a US$22 million grant project from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) – equivalent to one billion Egyptian pounds – to finance the construction and delivery of the first-of-its-kind DSV (Dive Support Vessel) for the Suez Can»»»

Militants of the ISIS group opened fire on police and wounded seven officers during a raid on the group in northwest Türkiye on Monday, the country's state-run media reported. The clash broke out in Elmali district in Yalova province, south of Istanbul, as police stormed a house where the militants»»»

Mexico City: At least 13 people died and close to a hundred others were injured Sunday when a train partially derailed in southern Oaxaca state, Mexican authorities said, updating an earlier toll. "As a result of this accident, 139 people are out of danger, 98 were injured... and unfortunately, 13 »»»

Dubai: A fierce bidding battle for the coveted car plate number 12 set the tone for Dubai’s latest distinctive number plate auction, propelling total sales to a record-breaking Dh109 million, the highest ever achieved by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The auction held on December 27 was h»»»

Dubai: People who drink bottled water every day may be ingesting an extra 90,000 microplastic particles annually, according to a new review of scientific research by researchers from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. The review analysed more than 140 scientific studies and found that, on av»»»

Specialists who received education funded by state scholarships and taxpayers’ money should return and work in Kyrgyzstan. Education Minister Dokturgul Kendirbaeva said live on Birinchi Radio. According to her, the ministry is interested in attracting young and proactive professionals to the educat»»»

As 2025 draws to a close, we will all reflect on the year gone by- the highs, the lows and what to hope for in 2026. For me this year was marked by finding comfort in nostalgia. I can’t say 2025 has been a bad year for me personally but there were immense moments of stress. And for most of us, what»»»

Dubai: People who drink bottled water every day may be ingesting an extra 90,000 microplastic particles annually, according to a new review of scientific research by researchers from Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. The review analysed more than 140 scientific studies and found that, on av»»»

Egyptian democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has apologised for several of his old tweets that have resurfaced, as calls grow for him to be deported from the UK days after he arrived following his release from an Egyptian jail. The Conservative and Reform UK leaders say the home secretary should c»»»

Dubai: A 470-kilogram unexploded World War II bomb has been safely removed from a construction site in the wider central area of Belgrade, Serbian authorities confirmed. The bomb, identified as a US-made AN-M44 aerial device, dates back to Allied air raids carried out over the city in 1944. Special»»»

Sharjah: The Sharjah Economic Development Department (SEDD) has launched a new service, ‘Awn 60+’, aimed at supporting senior citizens aged 60 and above by making access to government services easier and more convenient. The service enables seniors to complete transactions without visiting SEDD’s h»»»

The Abu Dhabi Civil Family Court has ordered a mechanic to pay Dh32,139 in compensation and imposed an additional fine of Dh10,000, after ruling that a private vehicle he repaired was not roadworthy and broke down during use. The case was brought by the car’s owner, who filed a civil lawsuit agains»»»

Sharjah: Residents across the emirate continue to report a strong sense of safety, according to the results of the Survey on the Perception of Safety of Lives and Property in the Emirate of Sharjah 2025, released by the Sharjah Civil Defence Authority in collaboration with the Department of Statist»»»

A Dubai civil court has annulled the sale contract of a luxury vehicle and ordered the selling company to refund Dh600,000 to the buyer, after it was established that the car was internationally wanted by Interpol, rendering the subject of the contract unlawful. The ruling followed a civil lawsuit »»»

Coast guard crews on Monday recovered the body of a migrant during a search and rescue operation for four people reported missing north of the eastern Aegean island of Samos. Details about the victim’s identity were not immediately known. Authorities launched the operation after police located 26 m»»»

by Amal Nabil Retail banking in Egypt is one of the sectors attracting the most customers as difficult financial conditions prevent many from acquiring products they need or capital for starting small businesses. The Middle East Observer discussed this issue with some retail experts from different »»»

Karachi: Fit-again allrounder Shadab Khan returned to Pakistan’s squad for next month’s three-match Twenty20 international series in Sri Lanka, selectors said yesterday. The 27-year-old missed a large part of Pakistan’s cricket with a shoulder injury since June but regained full fitness after surge»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Sheikh Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center celebrated the graduation of students from the Arabic language course from the Republic of Mongolia. The course lasted for a full month and benefited 11 male and female students. The organisation of such courses comes withi»»»

Dubai: Oman’s hospitality sector maintained strong momentum through the first nine months of 2025, as robust domestic and international travel lifted hotel occupancy, guest volumes, and total revenues. According to new research by Cavendish Maxwell, hotel revenues rose more than 18% year-on-year to»»»

The United States on Monday announced a $2 billion pledge for UN humanitarian aid as President Donald Trump’s administration continues to slash US foreign assistance and warns United Nations agencies to “adapt, shrink or die” in a time of new financial realities. The money is a small fraction of wh»»»

Foreign ministers from Cambodia and Thailand convened with their Chinese counterpart on Monday as the Beijing government, building on its expanding presence in the world diplomatic arena, sought to play a stronger mediating role in the violent border dispute between the two Southeast Asian countrie»»»

Head of the Information Policy Service of the Presidential Administration of the Kyrgyz Republic, Daiyrbek Orunbekov, reported he climbed Uchitel Peak and replaced the damaged state flag of Kyrgyzstan with a new one. According to him, information had previously appeared online that the flag on Uchi»»»

Rabat: African player of the year Achraf Hakimi will make his first appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations when hosts Morocco play Zambia on Monday, coach Walid Regragui confirmed. “What he has done to come back is extraordinary. What I can say is that Achraf will play tomorrow,” Regragui said yes»»»

Dubai: Nick Kyrgios beat women’s world number one Aryna Sabalenka in the “Battle of the Sexes” yesterday, in a highly-publicised showdown with modified rules that divided tennis fans. Former Wimbledon finalist Kyrgios won 6-3, 6-3 in an exhibition match in Dubai that bore little resemblance to the »»»

Sixteen people have been killed and three left injured after a fire tore through a nursing home for elderly residents in northern Indonesia, local authorities say. The fire department was alerted to a fire at Damai retirement home in the city of Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, on Su»»»

Beijing: China’s sprawling high-speed rail network passed 50,000 kilometres (31,000 miles) in total operating distance with the opening of a new line , state media reported. The country has the world’s largest rail network -- one-fifth longer than the circumference of the earth. The trip begins in »»»

Doha, Qatar: Amid a large crowd that filled the stands of the dedicated drift circuit at Qatar Racing Club (QRC), and with the participation of an elite group of drift champions from Qatar, the GCC, and the wider region, the third round of the Qatar Drift Championship came to a close. The champions»»»

Doha, Qatar: QNB Group announced the launch of its first-ever sonic identity, marking a new milestone in the bank’s brand evolution and customer engagement journey. Developed in collaboration with Sixième Son, a global leader in sonic branding, the new musical identity is rooted in QNB’s brand pers»»»

Bondi Beach shooting hero Ahmed al-Ahmed recalled the moment he ran towards one of the attackers and wrestled the gun from him, saying in an interview published Monday with a US outlet he wanted to protect "innocent people". Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of targeting a Hanukkah »»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will meet Donald Trump in Florida on Monday, with the US president pushing to move to the next stage of the fragile Gaza truce plan. The crucial meeting at Trump's lavish Mar-a-Lago resort comes as some White House officials fear both Israel and Hamas are s»»»

For the third consecutive year, the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai (GDRFA Dubai), in collaboration with the Permanent Committee for Labour Affairs in Dubai, has organised a special New Year celebration dedicated to the emirate’s workforce. The initiative reflects Dub»»»

Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Press Centre (QPC) hosted a delegation of Gulf and Arab journalists visiting Doha under the patronage of the Arab Federation for Sports Tourism, as part of their participation in the forum titled “The Cultural Dimension of Sports Tourism and Media.” The visiting delegation in»»»

The pull of home can be strong – even when it is a place you can't remember. That is how it is for Ahmed, 18. He emerges from a mosque in the heart of Gaziantep in south-east Turkey - not far from the Syrian border - wearing a black T-shirt with "Syria" written on the front. His family fled his hom»»»

In Plovdiv, students at Tsar Simeon the Great Secondary School are learning about the euro and how to handle money ahead of Bulgaria’s entry into the eurozone. Special interactive lessons have been prepared for the fourth-graders, combining theory with practical exercises. Presentations introduce t»»»

Doha, Qatar: A recent tourism market analysis by Mordor Intelligence highlights Qatar’s travel sector as a key driver of economic diversification, projecting ongoing expansion in visitor numbers and tourism infrastructure through 2026, supported by strategic marketing and enhanced connectivity. The»»»

The man who disarmed one of the gunmen who killed 15 people at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach has revealed his thoughts in the moments before his heroic actions. In verified footage, Ahmed al Ahmed - a Sydney shop owner born and raised in Syria - tackled one of the two shooters from behind, wrestlin»»»

Doha, Qatar: The University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) has received full accreditation from the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) for its Diploma in Information Technology (Dip IT) and Diploma in Information Systems (Dip. IS), offered through the College of Computing and»»»

Doha, Qatar: For the young musicians of Qatar Music Academy, a one-week camp at the Reina Sofía School of Music in Madrid offered far more than intensive training – it was a transformative experience that boosted confidence, broadened horizons, and opened new pathways for the future. In the month w»»»

Dubai: A five-year-old boy has died at a Japanese ski resort after his arm became trapped in an outdoor moving walkway, prompting an investigation into why the machine’s automated safety systems failed to engage. Hinata Goto, a kindergartner from Sapporo, was visiting the Asari Ski Resort in Otaru,»»»

Dubai: New car prices across the Gulf have held broadly steady this year, although affordability still varies sharply between markets, with Saudi Arabia remaining the most cost-effective place to buy a mass-market vehicle and the UAE at the other end of the scale. A new comparative pricing study co»»»

Doha, Qatar: Mohammed Saleh struck deep into stoppage time to rescue Al Rayyan from defeat as they drew 2-2 with Al Arabi in a Qatar Stars League clash at Al Thumama Stadium yesterday. Al Rayyan had looked set to leave empty-handed despite scoring first, but Palestine international Saleh surged in »»»

Doha, Qatar: Norwegian maestro Magnus Carlsen underlined his dominance of elite chess by winning the 2025 FIDE World Rapid Chess Championship in Doha yesterday, finishing a point clear of the field with 10.5 points from 13 rounds. At Qatar University’s Sports and Events Complex, the world No. 1 cla»»»

Dubai: A 70-year-old man has died and more than 150 passengers narrowly escaped after fire tore through two air-conditioned coaches of the Tatanagar–Ernakulam Junction Super-Fast Express near Visakhapatnam in the early hours of Monday. The deceased was identified as Chandrasekhar Sundar, a resident»»»

Azat Mirakhimov has been named the best coach of the year 2025 by the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports of Kyrgyzstan. The announcement was made during the Olympic Ball that took place in Bishkek. Azat Mirakhimov has been coaching the Kyrgyz national freestyle wrestling team since the en»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Career Development Center (QCDC), founded by Qatar Foundation (QF), in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour (MoL), and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MoEHE), launched yesterday the Winter Edition of its job-shadowing program ‘My Career – My Future,’ at Multa»»»

Doha, Qatar: Childhood obesity in the region, including Qatar, is widely misunderstood as a matter of individual discipline or quick policy solutions, according to a Doha-based health expert. However, it is a long-term challenge shaped by biology, economics, urban design, and social norms, one that»»»

Doha, Qatar: Qatar’s aviation sector is set to benefit from a strong regional airline boom, as Middle East carriers are projected to lead global profitability in 2026, reinforcing Doha’s position as a major international aviation hub. Driven by rising passenger demand, expanding route networks and »»»

Aiperi Medet kyzy has been named Kyrgyzstan’s best female athlete of 2025 by the State Agency for Physical Culture and Sports. The announcement was made during the Olympic Ball that took place in Bishkek. Aiperi Medet kyzy was recognized as the top female athlete in Olympic sports. She was the only»»»